Chapter 4 #2
“Yup!” Sabrina grinned. The oven dinged right on time. Sabrina pulled out the batch of cookies and put them on a cooling rack on the dining table.
Diya lifted one and popped a piece in her mouth. “Oh, heaven!”
“Let it cool at least,” Sabrina said.
Diya glared at her. “In my condition, I’m always hungry. I need food now. Whatever you can whip up is fine for me.”
Laughing, Sabrina served her the first of the pancakes. Diya generously poured honey and maple syrup over it before she dug in.
“Where’s my mom?” Aisha asked, looking around. “And Ahaan?”
“Praying,” Sabrina replied.
Aisha’s lips pursed, but she didn’t say anything.
“We heard you catered Kanika Mehta’s engagement,” Diya said between bites.
“I did.” Sabrina handed a plate to Aisha.
“And?” Diya asked. “Give us the details. Apparently, Aditya also showed up.”
Sabrina chuckled. “You guys are always updated on gossip.”
“Which you should have given us,” Aisha added. “So, now spill.”
“Honestly, there is nothing to spill,” Sabrina said.
When Aisha glared at her, Sabrina gave them a brief version of the evening and how it had gone.
“I’m so glad he’s not marrying her,” Aisha made a face. “Imagine her in our lives. Ugh no. Aditya is Rithwik’s closest friend. She would’ve been everywhere with us. Thank God that won’t be happening.”
“I still can’t believe why someone sensible like Aditya would’ve ever dated her,” Diya commented.
Aisha shrugged. “He was lonely, and she made a play for him. It was as simple as that. Also, everyone in our group is married or settled. Guess he wanted that for himself too.”
Sabrina stayed quiet. She wasn’t going to show in tone or expression that her heart felt happy knowing Aditya wasn’t going to be with that witch, Kanika. He was too good for her. Far too handsome, and…
She stopped her thoughts. It didn’t matter who he married. It was nothing to her.
Ahaan came running inside the kitchen and squealed when he saw Aisha.
He enveloped her in a huge hug. “Aish, Aish… you’re here! We were just talking about you. Where are Arnav and Raisa? Why didn’t you bring them?”
Aisha ruffled his hair. “They’re with your Uncle Rithwik, sweetheart. They couldn’t make it today.”
He went to Diya and pecked her cheek. “Hi, Aunty. How are Uncle Veejay and Ranvir?”
Diya smiled as she spoke to him about her son, Ranvir. Sabrina was so proud of her little boy. He was so polite and respectful.
Sabrina’s mother-in-law entered the kitchen, and just like that, the whole atmosphere shifted from light-hearted and carefree to stilted and frosty.
“I see the whole gang is here,” her mother-in-law said, her tone cold.
Aisha stood to hug her mother, who patted her back for a brief second before moving away.
Sabrina sighed. For too long, Radha had blamed Aisha for the accident that had taken Ajay’s life.
She’d put the blame on Aisha’s head, even though Ajay had been the one drunk driving that night.
It was Rithwik who had finally convinced her to patch up with Aisha.
However, the older woman was too damn headstrong, and she continued to put Ajay on a pedestal, which was still the root cause of discontent between mother and daughter.
Despite that and the cold vibe, things were definitely better between them.
At least they spoke to one another, and Radha was kinder to Aisha now.
“Is there a reason for your sudden visit?” Her mother-in-law asked Aisha and Diya.
Sabrina rolled her eyes at the curt question. Being used to Radha’s moody behavior, Diya smiled and said, “Oh, I just wanted to meet you, Aunty. It’s been so long.”
“And I don’t need an excuse to come here, do I?” Aisha asked pointedly.
Sabrina smiled. Falling in love with Rithwik had restored confidence in Aisha, something she’d lost after the accident that took Ajay’s life. At one time, Aisha used to walk on eggshells around her mother. Thankfully, that was no longer the case, and she faced her mother head-on at all times.
“Neither of you needs a reason to come here,” Sabrina said easily. “Sit, all of you, and let’s eat our breakfast.”
She put some pancakes in front of Ahaan, who poured cream and strawberries on them. She quickly whisked more pancakes for her friends, and cut a fruit for her mother-in-law.
The conversation around Sabrina continued in pleasant tones as she finally sat beside her son and ate her own breakfast. Neither her friends nor Ahaan paid any attention to the heavy silence from Radha.
They all cleverly skirted around her, chatting with one another.
Sabrina asked the girls several questions about their kids.
Diya’s son Ranvir was two and a half years old, while Aisha’s son Arnav was two, and her daughter, Raisa, was nine months old.
Sabrina adored their kids just like they adored her son.
Her mother-in-law suddenly stood. “I have to go to my friend’s house. I have that religious singing program today. But I will have lunch at home. Make vegetable rice for me.”
“Sure, have a nice day, Ma,” Sabrina said brightly.
“Ahaan, come drop me to the auto,” the older woman ordered.
Leaving his breakfast, Ahaan obediently followed his grandmother, who left without even a goodbye.
Aisha rolled her eyes when the door shut behind her mother. “Why is she so difficult today?”
“Tomorrow’s that day...”
“What day?” Aisha queried.
Sabrina gave a heavy smile. “On the fifteenth of every month, like clockwork, your mother mourns your brother. She’s unhappy and difficult around this time.”
“Still? And every month?” Aisha shook her head. “This is not good for any of you. It’s been years, Sabrina.”
Sabrina shrugged. There was nothing she could do about it. Ajay had passed away on the fifteenth of February. And hence on the fifteenth of every month, her mother-in-law ensured neither Sabrina nor Ahaan forgot they had lost him.
“And I suppose seeing me doesn’t help,” Aisha said with a grimace. “Sometimes, I still feel she wishes I had died instead of him.”
Diya dropped her fork on the plate. “Don’t you dare say that. I won’t have you spiraling down that rabbit hole ever again.”
There was a time before Aisha had met Rithwik, when she had firmly believed it, and it had affected her in the worst possible way.
“I don’t think she wishes that,” Sabrina said firmly. “She’s just never been able to get over losing him. It has nothing to do with you, I promise. She’s fine mostly.”
“You side with her too much,” Aisha said. “She’s my mother, and I know how difficult and harsh she can be. Yet you never speak an ill word about her.”
“She’s old.”
“That doesn’t justify her behavior,” Aisha said. “She barely respects you. She bosses over Ahaan and you all the time. It’s like she has replaced Ajay with Ahaan. She’s obsessed with him. That’s not healthy for him or you.”
“I agree with Aisha,” Diya added.
“I wish she’d simply accept my offer and come stay with me, at least on the weekends…” Aisha’s eyes saddened. “I wish she showed a hint of affection to my children.”
Unfortunately, that was true. Radha didn’t dote on Aisha’s kids as much as she did on Ahaan, and no matter how many times Sabrina had pointed this out, the older woman refused to change.
Diya clasped Aisha’s hand. “Hey, it’s okay. Rithwik’s parents more than make up for it.”
“I agree,” Sabrina concurred.
“Still, I just wish she’d get over Ajay.” Aisha looked at Sabrina. “You need to step out of her shadow. Both of you.”
“There is nothing you and I can do to change the situation. I do put my foot down where I can.” Sabrina tipped her head at Maya.
“Her being here is a clear example of that. Ahaan wanted a pet, and I was more than happy to adopt one for him. Ma opposed it, but in the end, I didn’t give her a choice. I have to do what’s best for my son.”
“It’s not nearly enough and you know it,” Aisha countered. “You both need time away from her.”
“Which is why we’re here,” Diya said. “We wanted to talk to you.”
“Okay…” Sabrina alternated her gaze from Aisha to Diya. “What’s up?”
Aisha began, “Do you remember talking about this course that helped professionals like you expand their range of desserts and their knowledge of the wine and food business in general?”
Sabrina frowned, completely taken aback by the question. She vaguely remembered having this discussion with Aisha several months ago.
“Yes, that was a while ago…” she replied. “Why are we talking about it?”
“Because you got through!” Aisha said excitedly.
“What?” Sabrina rocked back. “What do you mean, got through? I never applied for it.”
“You didn’t,” Aisha tipped a finger between Diya and herself, “We did, on your behalf.”
“W…what?”
Aisha placed her phone in front of Sabrina. “It’s true. See for yourself.”
Sabrina took the phone, her hands shaking as she read the email.
The Culinary Institute of Singapore was the top academy in the world for professional culinary education.
The selection process was brutal—only the absolute best made it through.
They chose their students solely based on their resumes.
The academy’s graduates didn’t just land jobs at Michelin-starred restaurants; they eventually built empires of their own, earning stars for the kitchens they led.
And now, to see an email from them confirming she’d gotten into their coveted Masters in Food Business Program was… Good God, she’d actually been selected.
Out of thousands of applicants, she’d made it into one of the most prestigious culinary courses in the world.
Her friends had applied on her behalf, believing in her more than she did herself.
She was shocked, delighted, overwhelmed, and grateful at having bagged such a rare opportunity. But a part of her was frozen in place.